The birding was so quiet at Lane Ends and Pilling Water this morning that I barely opened my notebook, and it took a text message from SP to liven up the morning somewhat. I’d done the sea wall walk from the car park and then back but recorded not much, the recent finch flocks reduced to single digit counts; 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 7 Linnet, 4 Skylark, 6 Goldfinch, 10 Pied Wagtail, 1 Greenfinch, a handful of hirundines and 7 Grey Heron. Unlike the grey variety, the Little Egrets of recent days are now absent, but if they are post-breeding dispersals from the Bangor, North Wales colony as seems likely, the mystery remains of their more local movements.
Whilst heading back from Pilling Water I remembered to switch on the Nokia; lucky I did as a message told of a brood of Ringed Plover chicks at Plover Scar, Cockersands - well if there aren’t plovers at the aptly named Plover Scar there must be something wrong. But two heads and certainly two pairs of eyes and binoculars are better than one when searching for Ringed Plover chicks against the adult’s distraction techniques and the fast running youngsters. After one false start SP and I found the three chicks, just a couple of days old but well capable of leaving us behind in a sprint across the rough shingle. This is a good breeding record for the Cockersands area and whilst the shore is more than suitable for breeding Ringed Plovers, the overall daily disturbance probably limits the species success here in too many years.
Also out on the scar were 5 other Ringed Plover, c40 Golden Plover, 8 Whimbrel, 15 Oystercatcher and 2 Wheatear.
I was back home in time to hear the pitter-patter of tiny raindrops on the conservatory roof. Time to grab Brownie Points, then catch up on IPMR and a few ringing records.
Love that little plover chick Phil!
ReplyDeleteThe ringed plover chick is just so cute! It looks even cuter than the Kentish Plover chick I found here in Japan!
ReplyDeleteI second that on the plover chick, nice photo
ReplyDeleteThe ringed plover chick looks adorable wearing its new ring, Phil.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, a friend in British Columbia saw something I've wanted to see all my life — baby seagulls! I've seen lots of well-fledged juveniles, but never any chicks, but in my hometown near the US border, my friend Lynette saw three squawking spotted infant seagulls on the roof of the museum. They were too small to fly, so the adults must have nested somewhere up there instead of on inaccessible parts of offshore islands.
I'm so excited. I couldn't go dashing across Alberta and BC to try to see them, so I phoned another friend and hinted she should go down with her camera, too, although Lynette's photos are wonderful.
Finally, I have a bit of birding to report to the birder, even if only second hand! Here's Lynette's blog post:
http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-world-tuesday.html
—Kay, Alberta, Canada
Couldn't find the RP chicks but not for want of trying, surely a first record here Phil. Golden Plovers built up to c.450 eventually.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you again today PS.
Hey Phil...Love that Plover chick, and it seems it is a hit so far : }
ReplyDeleteI am glad you didn't get your feathers wet and that you got some brownie points in there to!!
OK, I have to ask...you heard it on Nokia, what is Nokia? I am glad that you listened in and found those sweet little Plovers, what a little beauty you hold there. Phil please, please, send some pitter patters of rain our way, we are in such a big need~
ReplyDeleteHi Phil.As PW says surley a 1st for this aptly named site Best Wishes.JWB.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the photo of the ringed plover chick! Very cute.
ReplyDeleteI love the plover chick, Phil. and the adult is very similar to the ones we saw in East Africa.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad you stopped by to see the baby gulls...so pleased Kay shared the link with you. I'm enjoying looking through all your great bird pics!